Rewards

"Master, I know I was wrong."

Lu Dayou was completely convinced.

The other disciples naturally could not bear to watch Lu Dayou take the blame alone, and hurriedly pleaded with Yue Buqun together.

They all said, "Master, in the past, we only knew that you emphasized qigong, but we knew what it was without knowing why. We often felt confused about it ourselves. Today, we were fortunate enough to have you and Junior Disciple Brother clear up our doubts, and only then did we suddenly understand and realize our past mistakes. From this day onward, we will all diligently cultivate our internal energy. We will never slack off, play around, or let our thoughts wander again."

Yue Buqun also let out a long, emotional sigh. He had taken in so many disciples, yet only today had he made them understand these principles.

He could not help wondering whether there had been something wrong with his teaching methods in the past.

After thinking it over carefully, he had to admit that they truly were not as effective as his youngest disciple's examples and explanations today.

Now, seeing everyone enlightened as though awakened by a revelation, his disciples suddenly repentant and their minds cleared, and hearing them declare their determination to train diligently from now on, Yue Buqun's anger turned to joy. With master and disciples united in purpose and striving forward, how could he not be pleased?

All the dissatisfaction he had felt toward his disciples vanished.

"All of you, get up. Chong'er, Dayou, you two get up as well."

Linghu Chong and Lu Dayou felt as though they had been granted a pardon. They rose joyfully and bowed to Yue Buqun again.

"Thank you, Master."

"Don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank your Junior Disciple Brother."

Yue Buqun casually pointed at Ji Boying.

Linghu Chong and Lu Dayou thanked him repeatedly. Lu Dayou was now truly convinced.

"Thank you, Junior Disciple Brother, for clearing up our doubts and pleading for us."

Ji Boying laughed twice.

"Senior Brothers, what are you saying? We are disciples of the same family, so why be so polite? If Senior Brothers' martial skills surpass ours, then teach those skills to your junior brothers. And since this junior brother has come from beyond the mountain and has seen and heard a few things, naturally I should share them with my fellow disciples."

Yue Buqun was delighted to see them treating one another with such brotherly respect.

"As fellow disciples, you should help one another. Harmony throughout the sect is the way for a sect to endure."

Yue Buqun's tone carried deep emotion. If Mount Hua's disciples had not slaughtered one another back then, how could the once-mighty Mount Hua Sword Faction have fallen into such a bleak state? Yue Buqun had struggled to hold it together for so many years.

He was still cultivating the Purple Mist Technique, yet it was difficult to see any obvious progress. Meanwhile, Zuo Lengchan's Songshan Sect was flourishing in strength and making many restless moves. How could Yue Buqun not be anxious?

Had he not accepted such a heaven-sent genius of a youngest disciple and seen a glimmer of hope, his mood could not have been this good lately. Otherwise, Lu Dayou's earlier question alone would have been enough for Yue Buqun to break his legs.

Linghu Chong and Lu Dayou were also extremely happy at this moment.

They both grinned at Ji Boying. "Junior Disciple Brother, how is that merely having a little knowledge? In your eyes, the ultimate arts of all the great sects are as familiar as treasures in your own home. Today, on Yuntai Peak, you commented on the great experts of the martial world with quite the air of Cao Cao and Liu Bei in days of old."

Their words amused everyone, and the group burst into laughter again.

Yue Buqun, however, suppressed his smile and instructed them, "Those many senior figures of the martial world whom your Junior Disciple Brother just spoke of are all renowned people in today's martial world. It is fine that you heard these things today and broadened your horizons, but you must absolutely not repeat them everywhere. Such commentary is somewhat disrespectful. If you keep speaking of it and others hear, you will invite ridicule at best and trouble at worst."

"Rest assured, Master. We'll keep every word buried in our stomachs."

Linghu Chong took the lead in making the promise.

Then he turned to Ji Boying and said, "Just as I said earlier, Junior Disciple Brother's knowledge is hardly just a little knowledge. Master must be playing favorites. When he brought you up the mountain, he must have told you so many interesting stories about the martial world. Disciples of ordinary talent like us never received such treatment."

"Hahahaha..."

"Chong'er is making mischief again."

Ning Zhongze smilingly scolded him with affectionate indulgence.

Linghu Chong was clever. How would he usually dare say such things in front of Yue Buqun? Yue Buqun had always carried himself like a gentleman, a proper and rigid scholar who made them feel both awed and afraid.

Yet during this short period, Linghu Chong had figured it out. His master, Yue Buqun, truly regarded his Junior Disciple Brother differently. And it was precisely because Junior Disciple Brother was here that his master had been so happy. That was why he dared make a few jokes.

Sure enough, Yue Buqun was not angry. Instead, he said with a smile, "You have truly wronged your master. How could I have taught your Junior Disciple Brother this knowledge? It clearly comes from his family's long scholarly tradition; he brought it with him. In the future, you may ask him for guidance more often. Every profession has its specialty, and those who hear the Way may do so sooner or later. Do not become overly proud of your status."

Everyone became interested again.

"May I ask what martial arts family Junior Disciple Brother comes from?"

Ji Boying smiled. "Senior Brother thinks too highly of me. What martial arts family could I possibly come from? Ever since the Song Dynasty, my family has simply made its living through farming and study. We were neither especially rich nor noble, merely literate enough to know a few characters and never worry about food or clothing. The family has been passed down from one generation to the next, with no great estate or grand enterprise. It is only because we know a few words that we have made some acquaintances among officials and people of the martial world. Thus, over the years, I have learned a little about happenings in the martial world."

Only then did everyone come to a realization. Scholars truly were different.

Ji Boying's parents had died early in this life. His family estate was not large, consisting of a few dozen mu of fertile land and a residence with a few dozen taels of silver saved away.

If Ji Boying had not gone to Mount Hua to study martial arts, he would probably have followed the old path: finding a sensible and educated girl in the countryside, starting a family, farming and studying while raising children, never worrying about food or clothing, neither pursuing wealth and status nor mixing in official circles.

"Among you all, your Junior Disciple Brother performed the best in this small competition. Does anyone have any objections?"

Everyone was completely convinced.

"Junior Disciple Brother fully deserves it. We have no objections."

Yue Buqun lightly waved his folding fan, smiling calmly.

"Good. We agreed beforehand that those who performed well in this small competition would be rewarded, while those who performed poorly would be punished."

At those words, everyone grew nervous again.

Yue Buqun said, "We have also benefited from your Junior Disciple Brother's light. As for what you said earlier about practicing swordsmanship and cultivating energy, I will not hold it against you. Still, while major offenses may be forgiven, minor offenses cannot go unpunished. From today onward, all of you must train diligently. You are not allowed to fool around and waste time as before. Every day, rise at the hour of the Rabbit for morning practice."

How could anyone dare object? After all, they had just declared that they would work hard at martial arts. They could only obediently agree.

Yue Buqun then turned to Ji Boying, his expression gentle and amiable.

"Boying, what reward do you want?"

Ji Boying looked at the light screen before him.

Name: Ji Boying

Skills: Mount Hua Breathing Technique: Proficient (273/300), Mount Hua Swordplay: Mastery (203/600)

Talent: Skill Simplification. Spend Simplification Energy Points to simplify skills.

Energy Points: 1. The system automatically restores 1 point every month. It resets automatically at midnight on the first day of each month.

What reward did he want? Of course, he wanted martial arts.